CRISPR gene-editing for crops: Precision tool or new risk?
Key takeaways
- The EU is poised to ease restrictions on crops developed using Novel Genetic Techniques.
- The vote on NGTs is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
- Brussels has maintained a cautious stance on Genetically Modified Organisms since its regulation of GMOs began in the 1990s.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The EU is poised to ease restrictions on crops developed using Novel Genetic Techniques. While supporters say the technology could help farmers adapt to climate change, critics argue its effects remain poorly understood.
https://p.dw.com/p/5FVr3Proponents of gene-editing are excited by the prospect of developing new plant variants more rapidly and with precision Image: CHASSENET/BSIP/picture alliance Advertisement The European Parliament is expected to approve new rules to make it easier for farmers to grow crops, genetically edited using New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). The vote on NGTs is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
If so, it would mark a big policy shift. Brussels has maintained a cautious stance on Genetically Modified Organisms since its regulation of GMOs began in the 1990s.